Can I Bring Liquor In A Checked Bag? | Carry It Right

Flying with a nice bottle (or six) isn’t hard when you know the ground rules. Airlines and aviation regulators let you put liquor in checked baggage, as long as you match the alcohol by volume (ABV) limits, stick to quantity caps, and pack bottles so they can’t leak or shatter. The quick guide below lays out the rules that matter and the safest way to pack.

Bringing Liquor In A Checked Bag: Rules And Limits

Most routes follow the same baseline rules set for passenger baggage. Spirits and liqueurs that sit between 24% and 70% ABV can ride in your checked suitcase, but they need to be in factory-sealed retail packaging. The cap for that ABV band is 5 liters per traveler. Drinks at or below 24% ABV, like beer and table wine, aren’t capped in checked bags by those rules. Anything stronger than 70% ABV isn’t allowed in checked or carry-on bags at all.

For a direct source, see the TSA alcoholic-beverage rules, which align with FAA limits used by U.S. airlines and many international operators.

Notes: “Unopened” means the original seal is intact; airline or destination rules can be stricter.

What The 5-Liter Cap Looks Like In Real Life

Most spirit bottles are 750 ml. Six of those add up to 4.5 liters, which fits under the 5-liter cap for the 24–70% ABV band. A seventh 750 ml bottle would push you to 5.25 liters, which is over the cap. If your stash mixes 700 ml and 750 ml bottles, add the labels up before you pack.

Many duty-free shops sell 1-liter bottles; five hit the cap. Mix spirits with beer or wine freely, since drinks at or below 24% ABV don’t count toward the cap.

Carry-On Liquor Rules At A Glance

Mini bottles can ride in your quart-size liquids bag if each is 100 ml or less. Full-size bottles don’t meet the liquids rule, so keep those in checked luggage. Airlines ban self-serving on board, so don’t plan to drink your own liquor during the flight.

Packing Liquor Safely For Transit

Glass hates hard knocks. Your goal is simple: cushion every bottle, lock down every cap, and isolate leaks so nothing reaches your clothes. A little prep saves a lot of heartbreak at the carousel.

Glass Bottle Protection

• Use padded sleeves or inflatable wine protectors for each bottle.
• Short on gear? Wrap with thick clothing, then add a plastic layer around the bundle.
• Build a soft “nest” in the center of the suitcase and keep bottles away from edges.
• Stand corked wine upright inside a sleeve to reduce agitation.

Leak And Pressure Planning

Tighten every cap, then add a strip of tape over the closure. Slide each bottle into a sealed plastic bag; double-bag high-value picks. Sparkling wine and beer can burp under temperature swings, so give them extra padding and avoid overstuffing the case.

Air in the suitcase is the enemy. Any gap lets bottles knock together. Fill voids with socks and layers so nothing shifts. If the case has compression straps, use them to lock bundles, then give the bag a quick test before you zip it up.

Customs, Duty, And Age Rules

Checked-bag rules control what can fly; customs rules control what you can bring through the border. For travelers entering the United States, the usual duty-free allowance is one liter per adult age 21+, though you can bring more and pay any duty that applies. See the CBP duty-free allowance for details. Many countries set different allowances, age limits, or bans on certain products, so read the arrivals page for your destination before you shop.

Duty-Free Shop Purchases

Items from duty-free count toward the same baggage and customs limits. If you connect through a security checkpoint after buying liquor, make sure the shop seals it in a tamper-evident bag with the receipt visible. If the seal breaks before your next screening, move the bottle to checked luggage or you may lose it at the checkpoint.

Airline And Route Differences You Should Check

Policies can vary by carrier and country. Some airlines want bottles in original packaging only. Some limit total drinks per bag instead of per person. A few routes into dry jurisdictions ban alcohol outright in baggage. Scan your airline’s restricted items page and your origin and destination airport sites for any special notes.

Everyday Scenarios With Checked Liquor

Six 750 ml bottles of whiskey from Scotland to the U.S.? That’s 4.5 liters at 40% ABV. Pack them sealed in checked luggage and you’re inside the 5-liter cap. On arrival, you’re past the 1-liter duty-free allowance, so declare and pay any duty if assessed.

A case of wine from a tasting trip? Wine sits around 12–15% ABV, so the hazardous-materials cap doesn’t apply to checked bags. The real limit is your airline’s weight policy and your packing job.

A 151-proof overproof rum? That’s above 70% ABV, so it can’t go in checked or carry-on bags. Ship it by ground where permitted or buy a lower-proof version for the flight.

Connecting after buying duty-free spirits? Keep the bottle in the tamper-evident bag until the last stop. If you must clear security again and the seal is broken, place it in checked baggage before the next screening.

Checklist Before You Fly With Liquor

Common Mistakes To Skip

• Packing opened bottles or loose corks that can seep through clothing.
• Ignoring the 70% ABV ceiling for spirits like some overproof rums or neutral grain alcohol.
• Forgetting that the 5-liter cap applies to the 24–70% ABV band, not to beer and typical wine.
• Stuffing bottles at the edge of a hard-side case where impacts are sharpest.
• Skipping a declaration when you exceed a border allowance.

Breakage, Claims, And Common Sense

Airlines move bags fast, and fragile items take hits. Many carriers exclude compensation for broken glass packed inside checked baggage. If you choose to pack bottles, use sleeves, double bags, and strong padding so you’re not counting on a claim. If your bag is soaked on arrival, take photos before you leave the carousel and visit the baggage desk right away.

Final Checks Before You Pack

Scan your labels for ABV, count your liters, and keep everything sealed. Wrap each bottle, bag it, and place it in the center of the suitcase. Print or save your airline’s restricted items page and the destination’s customs rules. With those steps, checked-bag liquor arrives intact and ready for the toast that brought it home.

ABV Labels, Proof, And Quick Math

Labels in the U.S. often use proof alongside ABV. Proof is just twice the ABV. So a 40% ABV whiskey reads 80 proof, and a 151-proof rum reads about 75.5% ABV. For the cap, add the liters in the 24–70% ABV band: six 750 ml bottles equal 4.5 liters; four 1-liter bottles equal 4 liters; three 700 ml bottles equal 2.1 liters. Watch for 500 ml or 700 ml formats common outside the U.S. and keep a running total on your phone.

Choosing The Right Suitcase

Hard-side luggage spreads impacts and keeps edges from digging into glass. Soft-side bags work when you build a thick cushion with clothing and sleeves, but keep bottles away from corners and rails. Frequent flyers might invest in a wine carrier with foam inserts.

Receipts, Declarations, And Age Checks

Border officers can ask for receipts. Keep them handy, even for gifts. In some places the legal drinking age sets the import age, so underage travelers can’t bring in alcohol. Over the duty-free allowance? Declare the full amount and move on.

When Shipping Beats Checking

Some wineries and shops can ship to your home, depending on local law. Shipping avoids weight fees and removes the risk of broken glass in your clothes.

Weight And Fees

Liquor is heavy. Six 750 ml spirits can add more than 6 kilograms before packaging. Many airlines charge for overweight bags. Weigh the suitcase and split the load with a travel partner if needed.

ABV Labels, Proof, And Quick Math

Labels in the U.S. often use proof alongside ABV. Proof is just twice the ABV. So a 40% ABV whiskey reads 80 proof, and a 151-proof rum reads about 75.5% ABV. For the cap, add the liters in the 24–70% ABV band: six 750 ml bottles equal 4.5 liters; four 1-liter bottles equal 4 liters; three 700 ml bottles equal 2.1 liters. Watch for 500 ml or 700 ml formats common outside the U.S. and keep a running total on your phone.